Looking for advice on a hedge...

Last post 11-08-2012 10:06 PM by Paul-man. 3 replies.

• 10/08/2012 08:33 PM

  Paul-man Location: United Kingdom Joined on: 10 Aug 2012 Posts: 2

  Reply | Contact First post, so apologies if this is in the wrong place. As part of a landscaping project, we have removed a laurel hedge that had taken over the front garden (and in the wrong place!) We are looking to replace it and having looked at the most obvious choices, we are struggling to choose a replacement hedge. The hedge will be pretty much South-Facing, gets a fair amount of sun and is to shield off one side of the drive from passing pedestrians (corner plot). The subsoil is clay but we have dug this out and have about 40cm deep of topsoil, seems to drain well. Must be evergreen. Must have flowers OR have an interesting colour. (e.g photinia Red Robin) Must form a good screen. Preferably medium to fast growing. Must grow to about 6' tall. Have looked at the following hedges that meet most of the above: Cotoneaster Franchetti - Looks a good candidate but growth too slow? Escallonia - not sure it would form the correct shape? Cherry Laurel - Loads of it around here, not enough colour. Photinia Red Robin - not sure if it would grow quickly enough. Rhodedendrum - not sure if our soil is acidic, but also read not to be used next to drives. Cammellia - this would look beautiful but have read it cannot be used South facing aspect. Have I missed an obvious candidate? Am I looking for something that doesn't exist! Paul

• 10/08/2012 11:37 PM

  In reply to

  courierdude Location: cambs/suffolk border Joined on: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 213

  Reply | Contact a euonymus fortunei cultivar could be added to your list? ..though really, if your site is not exposed to the elements you could consider all manner of evergreen shrubs.. how about a nice variegated myrtus hedge..or some of the more interesting colour conifers..and then there are lots of viburnums also that are evergreen, flower and happy to live as a hedge. considered a nice blue ceanothus hedge even? energy follows thought

• 11/08/2012 01:54 AM

  In reply to

  AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 500

  Reply | Contact I don't think euonymus fortunei would reach 6 foot, and not quickly anyway. What about portuguese laurel, prunus lusitanica? This does well in full sun, reaches 6 foot easily, can be pruned to size and shape, is dense, has nice white flowers in May (but you lose these if you hedge-trim regularly). There is a variegated one which would give leaf colour. Alternatively look at pittosporum tenuifolium, there are many variegated versions which are very handsome. And yew, though slow-growing, gives a lovely hedge which is easy to manage. Perhaps you could erect a temporary trellis or fence to provide a screen until your hedge has grown significantly. Alex

• 11/08/2012 10:06 PM	In reply to
  Paul-man Location: United Kingdom Joined on: 10 Aug 2012 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact Thanks both for your suggestions so far.